Lubrication of instruments



Sept. 23, 1969 M. YUSEIM' 3,468,400

LUBRICA'I'ION OF INSTRUMENTS Filed May 9, 1967 FIG. 3 42 4| INVENTOR: MILTON YUSEM United States Patent US. Cl. 184-1 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Re-lubrication of watches and other mechanisms without disassembling and cleaning of such mechanisms. A mechanism is sealed in a closed chamber containing a supply of treatment oil compatible with the original lubricant of the mechanism and capable of vaporizing and dissolving in the original lubricant at the various lubrication points of the mechanism to dilute and thereby renew the original lubricant. Heat is preferably supplied to promote the evaporating, dissolving, and diluting processes.

Background of the invention Ordinarily, instruments or mechanisms such as watches which have been in service for one or more years are relubricated as they are reassembled following a cleaning operation. Periodic cleaning of watches is usually recommended to remove dust and other particulate matter and also to remove old oil which has become increasingly viscous over the interval of use. Since modern time Summary of the invention The method of the present invention constitutes a simple and inexpensive method of re-lubricating mechanisms, such as the mechanisms of watches, chronographs, computers, and a wide variety of instruments. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more mechanisms are placed Within a sealed chamber containing a reservoir of treatment oil compatible with the original lubricant of the mechanisms. Upon the application of heat, the volatile treatment oil dilutes the original lubricant of the watch at its various lubrication points and thereby renews the original lubricant. All of this is carried out without disassembly of the mechanisms; all that is required is that the mechanisms be exposed to the vapors of the treatment oil, which may also be the original lubricant, within the sealed chamber.

In another embodiment of the invention, oil depots are provided in the instruments themselves, such depots in effect resulting in continuous self-lubrication of the mechanisms over long intervals of time. As a result, the need for periodic disassembly and conventional re-lubrication of the mechanisms is eliminated or greatly reduced. Wear is also reduced; thus it will prolong the life of the watch or its parts.

Drawings FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevational view, shown partly in section, and illustrating a re-lubrication chamber adapted for use in the method of the present invention;

3,468,400 Patented Sept. 23, 1969 FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view, showing a watch equipped with re-lubrication reservoirs or depots;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the rear cover of the Watch illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Description Referring to FIGURE 1, the numeral 10 generally designates a container or cabinet of rectangular shape. The cabinet includes top, bottom, side, and rear walls 11-14, respectively, and a front door 15 which may be hinged along one side, as represented by the numeral 16. A latching handle 17 adjacent the free edge of the door is provided to hold the door in closed position, thereby sealing the chamber 18 provided Within the cabinet.

The Walls of the cabinet are preferably formed of inner and outer shells 19 and 20, between which extends an electrical heating element 21. If desired, additional insulation 22 may be provided along the inner surface of the outer shell. The heating element is in circuit with the wires of a cord 23 equipped with a standard plug 24 which may be inserted into a conventional electrical outlet.

A control knob 25, which controls a standard rheostat, may be manipulated to control the amount of current supplied to heating element 21 and is thus used to control the temperature within chamber 18. Any suitable thermometer, such as an oven thermometer 26, may be disposed within the chamber and is visible through the insulated glass 27 of door 15.

At the top of the cabinet is a vent passage 28 provided with an external nipple 29 to which a drain hose 30 may be connected. A second drain 28a may communicate with the lower portion of the chamber, and may be equipped with a manually-operated valve 28b, for the discharge of vapors from the chamber in certain instances, such as where it becomes desirable or necessary to open the chamber when it is in heated condition.

Within chamber 18 are a plurality of Wire shelves 31. In the illustration given, the shelves or racks have downwardly turned lugs 32, which are received within sockets 33 provided along the interior side walls of the cabinet. Thus, the shelves may be readily removed, by lifting them upwardly to draw their lugs from the sockets, and may be located in any of various positions within the chamber 18. An oil pan 34 is disposed in the bottom of the chamber, the pan being equipped with downwardly projecting legs 35, which rest upon the interior surface of bottom wall 12. Like shelves 31, pan 34 is removable from the cabinet for cleaning or for any other purpose.

In practicing the method of the present invention, one or more watches 36, with their back covers removed, are placed within chamber 18. If desired, the movements (or any parts thereof), may be completely separated from the case and crystal, although such separation is generally unnecessary. The watches may be supported upon the shelves or may be hung from depending hooks 37 provided by the shelves. While the present method will be described in connection with watches, it is to be understood that a similar treatment may be given to any instrument or mechanism in need of re-lubrication.

The Watches supported within the chamber are assumed to be in need of re-lubrication because the oil with which they have been previously lubricated has become viscous through evaporation of its more volatile components, or because chemical changes such as oxidation and gumming have occurred. While the oil points of such a watch may not be dry, the viscosity of the residual oil is such that it no longer properly lubricates the watch but instead tends to gum or jam it.

Pan 34 is partially filled with a treatment oil having volatile components compatible with the original oil of the Watch and capable of vaporizing, dissolving in, and diluting the residual oil to achieve a more fluid lubricant. Any suitable treatment oil may be used which meets these requirements and which has significant volatility at a temperature of approximately 225 degrees F.

The temperature limitation of 225 degrees F. is based partly on the maximum temperature to which a watch may be safely heated, considering the plastic composition of its crystal and, possibly, other parts. It is apparent that if the watch contains no parts which might be injured by substantially higher temperatures, then an oil may be used which requires a higher temperature to secure appreciable volatiles. Oils of such low vapor pressure (as to require higher temperatures for vaporization) would tend to last longer in the residual oils at the normal temperatures of watch operation. In any event, it is important that the temperature of the watch and the oil, that is, the contents of the chamber, be approximately 225 degrees or higher to exclude the possibility of moisture condensation in the watch and to provide enough re-oiling vapor so that air (oxygen) would tend to be excluded and thereby reduce oxidation of the metallic surfaces of the mechanism.

The volatile components of the treatment oil should be soluble in the residual oil of the mechanism and they should confer no undesirable properties to the original oil. Since compatibility of the oils is an important consideration, it may in some instances be desirable to use the same or substantially the same oil for renewal as the original oil of the mechanism. Under such conditions, excessive re-oiling would be avoided because the more volatile components of the renewal oil would tend only to equalize the less volatile portions of the original oil. As soon as the composition of both oils becomes identical, vapor transfer ceases because vapor pressure is the same at all points within the chamber.

Any of a wide variety of lubricants or stabilizers and other desired additives may be used as the renewal oil as long as such lubricant vapors are compatible with the original oil and have volatile components capable of diluting the residual oil of the mechanism. In general, however, hydrocarbon oils such as mineral oils are only moderately satisfactory because of their tendency to spread or flow, thereby reducing the amount of oil at the lubrication sites. Oils containing polar grou s, such a hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, or aryl groups, tend to have greater surface tension and are generally more suitable for use in lubricating timepieces and other instru ments where the lubricant, to be effective, must be retained at certain lubrication points.

The duration of the heating step will vary considerably depending upon the composition of the renewal oil and the relationship between that oil and the original oil. In general, the treatment temperature of 225 degrees F. or greater should be continued for at least 30 minutes. Where the original and renewal oils are of same composition, the heat treatment may be continued for hours since treatment of excessive duration will produce no further change once equilibrium of composition of the oil in the reservoir and at the lubrication sites has occurred. If, on the other hand, the renewal oil contains a large proportion of highly volatile components, more than the original lubricating oil of the watch, then heating for extended periods of time may result in excessive dilution of the residual oil at the lubrication sites. In any event, the heat treatment should be discontinued when the volatile components of the renewal oil have diluted the residual oil to the point where the residual oil has been restored substantially to its original viscosity.

It is to be understood that the renewal oil may also contain additives which are capable of volatilizing and replenishing those additives which have been lost in the residual oil deposits. Thus, the renewal oil may contain a stabilizer such as hydroquinone which is capable of volatilizing during the heat treatment and replenishing the anti-oxidant of the original oil. It will also be appreciated that in some cases the fluid to be supplied may consist only of a volatile stabilizer, or of some fluid other than a lubricant, as where the article to be treated (such as a plastic product) requires replenishment only of a stabilizer or anti-oxidant, and that in such a case replenishment may be achieved as long as the zone of treatment contains a residuum of the original antioxidant or other material in a liquid phase, and the volatile treatment material is soluble in the original liquid and has a higher vapor pressure than the residuum of original fluid. In most instances the application of heat would be necessary to convert the original material into a liquid or semi-liquid state, as Where the article to be treated is formed of plastic and rejuvenation of its solid anti-oxidant ingredient is desired.

Assuming that the pan 34 is partially filled with a suitable renewal oil, one or more watches 36 are then placed within chamber 18 and the temperature within the chamber is increased to a temperature of 225 degrees F. or higher. The application of heat causes some of the treatment oil to volatilize and saturate chamber 18. In addition, the application of heat also causes some evaporation of the remaining volatile components in the viscous oil of the watch. However, the vapor pressure of the fresh treatment oil Will necessarily be higher than the vapor pressure of the viscous residual oil. As a result, the vapor pressure in the gaseous volume due to the treatment oil will exceed the saturation vapor pressure of the old oil and a vapor-liquid interchange will occur at the points where such old oil is found within the watch. The vapor will not tend to condense elsewhere in the watch because the parts of the Watch assume substantially the same temperature as that of chamber 18.

In this connection, it is to be observed that if adsorption occurs during the heating process, with the most volatile portions of the renewal oil being adsorbed on the metal of the watch mechanism in areas other than the lubrication points, then the thin layer of adsorbed oil may tend to dissolve more of the vapor and become a thin liquid film. However, the formation of such a liquid film is elTectively prevented because such a film would be formed of the most volatile liquid in the watch and, consequently, would evaporate rather than remain in a liquid state upon such surfaces.

It is believed apparent that the method of the present invention, except for the application of heat, might be performed by using the casing of a watch or other instrument as the treatment chamber and by providing within such casing re-lubrication oil reservoirs or cups containing an oil having volatile components which would tend to continuously renew the condition of the original oil at the critical lubrication points. FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate a watch which is adapted to perform such continuous relubrication. The watch is generally designated by the numeral 38 and, except for the construction of back cover 39, is entirely conventional.

Rear cover 39 is provided with one or more recesses or cups 40 adapted to serve as reservoirs for an oil containing components which are volatile at room temperature and which are compatible with, and capable of renewing, the oil applied to the moving parts elsewhere in the watch. The oil contained within each reservoir is designated by the numeral 41, and each reservoir is partially sealed by an apertured cover 42 formed of plastic or other suitable material.

During use of the watch, the treatment oil 41 will tend to evaporate, saturating the watch chamber with the vapor of the oils more highly volatile components. The saturation of the watch chamber with such vapor prevents the loss of volatile components from the oil located in the various lubricated points of the watch. Thus, in the absence of a need for cleaning or repair, or for very infrequent replenishment of the oil within the reservoirs, the Watch would need to be rarely if ever disassembled. It would, in effect, embody within it own casing a source of oil which continuously renews the oil originally applied to the various working parts. Dry wear of the watch parts is therefore avoided, and the operating life of the watch or other instrument is greatly increased.

While in the foregoing I have disclosed the invention in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of these details may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A method of re-lubricating instruments having lubrication points to which an original lubricant has been applied, comprising the step of enclosing the working mechanism of said instrument within a chamber containing a reservoir of treatment oil compatible with the lubricant of said instrument and having volatile components capable of dissolving in the lubricant at said lubrication points to dilute and renew such original lubricant.

2. The method of claim 1 in which there is the additional step of heating said working mechanism to aid volatilization of the components of said treatment oil.

3. The method of claim 2 in which said Working mechanism is heated to a temperature of about 225 degrees F. or more.

4. The method of claim 1 in which said treatment oil contains additives capable of volatilizing and replenishing the additives of the original lubricant.

5. The method of claim 4 in which said additive is an anti-oxidant.

6. A method of re-lubricating a mechanism previously lubricated with an oil which has become viscous largely because of the evaporation of its volatile components, comprising the steps of enclosing said mechanism in a chamber partially filled with a volatile treatment oil compatible with the oil of said mechanism and having volatile components capable of diluting and reducing the viscosity of the residual oil of said mechanism, and heating said volatile treatment oil and said mechanism to partially vaporize said treatment oil and said mechanism oil, the vapor of said treatment oil diluting the residual oil of said mechanism to reduce the viscosity of said residual oil and thereby renew the same.

7. The method of claim 6 in which said mechanism and said volatile treatment oil are heated to a temperature of at least 225 degrees F.

8. In an instrument having a sealed casing and having a working mechanism with lubrication points to which an original lubricant has been applied, the structure comprising a reservoir within said casing, said reservoir containing an oil compatible with said original lubricant and including components capable of volatilizing and dissolving in the original lubricant to dilute and renew such lubricant.

9. The structure of claim 8 in which apertured closure means is associated with said reservoir for retaining oil in a liquid state within said reservoir Without preventing the evaporation of said oil from said reservoir.

10. The structure of claim 8 in which the oil contained within said reservoir includes volatile additives for replenishing the additives lost from said original oil.

11. The structure of claim 10 in which said volatile additives include an anti-oxidant.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,134,435 10/1938 Cantrell et a1. l841 2,478,865 8/1949 Fiechter 58152 XR 2,747,361 5/1956 Kohlhagen 58l52 XR 2,920,041 1/ 1960 Fiecht'er 58l40 3,091,917 6/1963 Tonnenberger 184-6 XR 3,356,132 12/1967 Robinson et al. 184-6 FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner M. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 58-152; 1846 

